V small boobs but can anyone tell me what size bra?!

[pollyblue]

I've just been reading ameliagreys post with interest, about the confusion surrounding bra sizes. I didn't want to hijack her thread but would be grateful for opinions as I've found buying bras a real pain for years, and wonder if anyone could suggest the size/s I should be trying....

I measure 31" underbust, and 34" around. Boobs are small, no getting away from that! Generally I wear a 36AA from Marks which is comfortable enough, but there's a real lack of choice in that size. I have tried 34As from Marks, but did feel they were too tight, and not quite right in the cup. But poss the wrong style rather than size...?

If I should be wearing a different size, great, because I might have more choice. If not, I'll just have to be in plain t-shirt bras for the rest of my days

melted, no worries - i think we're as confused/clueless as each other

ASuitable, thankyou, that's a big help.

A B?! A B!!! Hurray! I have boobs! A B!! :o I can buy in normal shops! Hurray!

I used to wear a 34A, then 32B and now have properly seen the light and am 30C. And as other people have said, they are all the same cup size, just shows that my breasts stick out relatively more than I thought they did considering my small back size.

melted I share your joy! I've always felt embarrassed by lack of boobs, not made any better by the really poor choice in the shops (and yes M&S I'm including you in that....)

I agree - 30B meltedchocolate, though the other thing to take into account is that it depends on the make, so you may need to try a couple of different sizes. I'd try a 30B, 30C, 32B and 32C and see which is the most comfy. The back band should be totally straight across your back - if it rises up it's too big - and the bit between the cups should be flat against your chest - if it's not the cups are too small.

meltedchocolate 30B, maybe 28C or 32A in some bras. Go by fit not label size.

One of my friends is a very slim size 8 (also 5'10'' and blonde !) with very small boobs and wore a 34A for years because someone at M&S told her that was her size when she was a teenager and her body shape didn't change at all a she got older - she has now seen the light and wears a 28D and looks even more amazing!

Oh my goodness all those things happen to me.

My strap rises
The big in middle is not flat against my chest
Yet I can fit my hand into one of my cups cos it looks way too big but maybe that's because there is no support?

I have a strange shaped chest tough. Imagine the oval shape you would see if you looked from above down my rib cage, well for me, it looks like someone has layed me on the ground and squashed my rib cage. I am broad and square in my rib cage but very thin from the side so all cups want to be clse together when my boobs are further apart if that makes sense? HELP!

32 B I reckon

Pippa I'm slim-ish and wear a 10/12 top - in ameliagreys thread several people said if you're a size 12 you're really unlikely to need a 36 band - does sound like that is the case.

I bet your friend was shocked to end up in a D cup after years in an A though!

i didn't wear a bra for years. 32a was the size i thought i was. they were too big and used to ride up. getting a 30 back was almost impossible so i just didn't bother. A couple of years ago DH treated me and sent me off to Rigby and Peller. They measured me at 28B. I had the bras sent off to be professionally adjusted and it's the first time in my life i've been comfortable in a bra and actually don't look flat chested!
If you are small i'd highly recommend going to R&P for a proper fitting.

I've just been looking at Rigby and Pellers site and there isn't a branch anywhere near me, so not a hope of going there for a fitting - is it worth trying M&S or John Lewis?

I'd avoid M & S like a particularly bad plague.

I've had really good experiences at John Lewis, but have heard of others who haven't, so I guess it depends?

Sorry, not very helpful!

AS thanks, I've just seen on amelias thread that M&S isn't well regarded when it comes to measuring, which is strange because I've always thought of them as the best place for bras....sounds like they've been overtaken by other companies now.

I have been measuring all day since I started the other thread!

I am between a 29 and 30 inch band depending on how much I pull the tape measure.

Across the boobs I am a 35 ( or maybe a 34 if you discount cold nipples!)

I keep stressing that it really does depend on the brand. I have tried some 32 backs on in M&S and they would not fasten- never mind just being a bit tight.

On the other hand, some styles in J Lewis- their own brand- are quite genrous in a 32 band and I could fasten ( just) a 30 inch.

OP you are just a bit smaller than me so I would say try a 32 B, or 32C depending on style.

One more thing- support comes from the band- not the straps. so if you are hoiking up the straps to lift those puppies, you need a smaller band and a bigger cup , often.

OP John Lewis do a good range of sizes and always have a 30 inch and sometimes a 28 inch in their own styles- have a peek online.

Do you have house of fraser, the one near us is of the 'new way' of thinking !

I cant get anywhere for a fitting so when I have the money after Xmas it will have to be a trial an error online ordering frenzy!

ah that's interesting, i do always have my straps hoiked as high as they will go......

Yes, I think I'm going to try a 32B and 32C and take it from there - will have a look at John Lewis's site - am thinking a balconette will probably give a better fit/look than a plunge?

I've measured myself 4 times in last half hour! Still about 31" under and 34" over....

as an example, all these are available in a 30D- search for your size on the site.

www.johnlewis.com/Women/Lingerie/Lingerie+/Bras/16892<a class="break-all" href="///ProductCategory.aspx#&&/wEXAgURU2VhcmNoRXZlbnRUYXJnZXQFOmN0cmxGaWx0ZXJMSE4xX3JwdEZpbHRlcnNfY3RsMDNfY3RybFNpemVGaWx0ZXJfdXBkVmlld01vcmUFE1NlYXJjaEV2ZW50QXJndW1lbnQFX0ZJTC9Xb21lbi9MaW5nZXJpZS9MaW5nZXJpZSsvQnJhcy8xNjg5Mi8xLzAvUHJvZHVjdENhdGVnb3J5LmFzcHg/YT0xODAyMyZMQkZpbHRlckdyb3VwPUJyYStTaXplZHMnjL1YMLdCj0xyeLkevlIEyK0=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">/ProductCategory.aspx#&&/wEXAgURU2VhcmNoRXZlbnRUYXJnZXQFOmN0cmxGaWx0ZXJMSE4xX3JwdEZpbHRlcnNfY3RsMDNfY3RybFNpemVGaWx0ZXJfdXBkVmlld01vcmUFE1NlYXJjaEV2ZW50QXJndW1lbnQFX0ZJTC9Xb21lbi9MaW5nZXJpZS9MaW5nZXJpZSsvQnJhcy8xNjg5Mi8xLzAvUHJvZHVjdENhdGVnb3J5LmFzcHg/YT0xODAyMyZMQkZpbHRlckdyb3VwPUJyYStTaXplZHMnjL1YMLdCj0xyeLkevlIEyK0=

sorry- does this work?

www.johnlewis.com/Women/Lingerie/Lingerie+/Bras/16892/ProductCategory.aspx#&&/wEXAgURU2VhcmNoRXZlbnRUYXJnZXQFOmN0cmxGaWx0ZXJMSE4xX3JwdEZpbHRlcnNfY3RsMDNfY3RybFNpemVGaWx0ZXJfdXBkVmlld01vcmUFE1NlYXJjaEV2ZW50QXJndW1lbnQFX0ZJTC9Xb21lbi9MaW5nZXJpZS9MaW5nZXJpZSsvQnJhcy8xNjg5Mi8xLzAvUHJvZHVjdENhdGVnb3J5LmFzcHg/YT0xODAyMyZMQkZpbHRlckdyb3VwPUJyYStTaXplZHMnjL1YMLdCj0xyeLkevlIEyK0=

grrrr- maybe you can see it!

anyway- easy to look on their site.

yes that works! Thankyou.

I believed i was 32a for years. i'm actually 28d and my boobs look so much bigger in the right bra. 28d is hard to find in most cheap places though so most of my bras are 30c which also fit fine.

I'd like to add that I had a similar revelation: I'd been in 32B for years, then earlier this year I was measured at RandP and am now in a 30D in some styles, 30C in others. It felt tight for the first half day (having been used to a very loose, unsupportive band) but my breasts look much less "sad".